Former Sunderland defender Danny Higginbotham believes the Sunderland job could be a ‘manager’s dream’ with ‘endless opportunities’.

The search for Simon Grayson’s replacement is now in its 17th day, with the club still no further forward in terms of making an appointment.

Wales boss Chris Coleman, Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom and former Rangers manager Ally McCoist are believed to be in the reckoning, but whoever takes charge is taking over a club that needs a major overhaul.

The Black Cats are bottom of the Championship, in a precarious financial position and fan apathy - particularly at home - is very high.

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Nonetheless, Higginbotham - who played for the Black Cats during the 2007/08 season - believes the right appointment could unlock Sunderland’s huge potential and restore the club to their former glories.

“There’s been no forward planning,” Higginbotham said on last night’s EFL Matters.

“If you spoke to supporters they’d say that the club is in a bit of a mess with the way things have been run, but [it could be] a manager’s dream. The problem comes with all the other things you have to deal with.

“If they get the right appointment they can go from strength to strength. I’m not saying they’ll get promoted but they can get out of harms way in terms of relegation, no doubt.

“But if you’re the manager who gets it right then the opportunities are endless, and I think that’s how a manager could be enticed there.”

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“But you never say never, it’s flattering and credit to my players for the effort they’ve put in that you get linked to jobs like that.

“Obviously there are some issues but I was very surprised because when someone is sacked so quickly after a game you’re almost expecting the [next manager] to be announced the day after,” he added.

“That’s not been the case and there are a couple of clubs that haven’t used this period as we’d all have expected to get someone in place, but there’s been a losing habit there for a few seasons and sometimes it’s hard to get out of that routine.

“The fans are there and there are still some really good players, but they’ve got to show a lot more than what they have done so far.”